Disconnecting device



Feb. 12, 1929, 1,701,877

Feb. 12, 1929. 1',701,877

w. FOSTER DISGZDNNECTING DEVICE Fil NOV. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb.12,1929.

1,701,877 w. FOSTER DI SCONNECTI NG DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 12, 1929.

W. FOSTER DISCONNECTING DEVICE Fil 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb.12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FOSTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DISCONNECTING DEVICE.

. Application filed November 5, 1325. Serial No. 66,957.

My ,invention relates to disconnecting switches for use in linecircuits.

A purpose of my inventionis to provide a disconnecting device having theswitch element inside of a tubular insulator.

A fur her purpose is to protect separated terminals by an insulatorencasing them and to connect them to close the circuit by a plug. 7wholly insulated in all exposed parts and protected against accidentalcontact exterior to the insulator.

A further purpose is to provide spaced circuit terminals enclosed withinan insulator and to unite them by a plug guided to 'tial positionandthre'aded into final conspaced contact-terminals enclosed within aninsulator as a stop toprevent removal of the plug whose operating partsare also enclosed within the insulator and which is protected I againstaccidental exterior contact.

A further purpose is to provide a plug for engagement with two spacedand insulator enclosed circuit terminals witha thread terminal adaptedto draw the plug to final position and with an insulating. sleevebetween it and the otherterminal.

'A further. purpose is to provide a plug for connecting two spaced andinsulator-enclosed circuit terminals with insulation between its contactpoints and with a guiding and arcing device between the insulation andone of its;

contacts.

A further purpose is to divide one of two circuit terminalsspaced andprotected by insulation and axially in line into two parts of which oneis removable and adjustable for p the purpose of determining the settingof the connecting plug and by removal of the plug undernormal-conditions to permit its withdrawal when the part is removed.

A further purpose is to fasten switch terminals in opposite ends of atubular insulator and to provide a plug or bolt connection having'athreaded portion adapted to screw into one of the terminals and ashoulder adapted to engage the other terminal and stop againstitwhen'screwed home.

A further purpose is to provide a double break in the same side of acircuit and to wholly enclose both breaks. 7

- A further purpose is to safeguard a plug or bolt disconnecting deviceto more fully protect the user.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, corresponding to Figure 3 but memberdisconnected.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of theswitch member.

In the drawings similar numerals indicate like parts.

with the switch Describing in illustration and not in limiv tation andreferring to the drawings The disconnecting switch operates inside atubular insulator 10.

The insulator is shown as fastened to a supporting bracket 11 by aperforated band 12 and screws 13. The ends of the band are preferablystiffened by reversely bending them into the screw shanks at 1 1, Figure2; the arrangement being such that the screw shanks support the bandends from bending inward when the screws are tightened.

The inside terminals of the switch comprise upper and lower conductorelements, 15 and 16, sealed into opposite ends of the insulator 10 bymeans of molded insulation 1'7 and 18; and presenting outwardlyextending flattened shanks 19 (vertical) and 20 (hori- I V (Figure 4)are sweated into the bored ends of the oustide terminals, and theremovable screw connections at'2l between the outside and insideterminals adapt the outside terminals to be easily interchanged inposition, either line end connecting to either end of the switch whilethe other line end connects into the other end of the switch.

7 Insulation sleeves 26 and 27 are shown at the ends of the lineconductors, extending over and suitably insulating the terminalconnections. These sleeves are preferably adapted to be moved away alongthe conductors to give access to the screw connections at2l.j:v 7

The inside terminals and 16 are desir ably corrugated at 28 and 29 toallord more firm connection with the molded insulation- (cement) and thelower terminal 16, in the form of a horizontal rin'g and shank is Iterminal member.

- plugand is held in place against the bottom sealed to place against adownwardly di-' rected shoulder 30 near-the bottom'otthe insulator.

Switch connection is made and broken 'between theinside terminals bymeans of a Ver tical plug connector 31 .within the tubular insulator,-and provided with an insulation handle 32 beneath the lower endotthe'insulater. Connection is made between the in side terminals bymoving the plug up and then screwing it into one oi the terminals untilit makes stop engagement with the other.

Preferably the threaded connection is with the upper terminal and thestop engagement with the lower, and I have so illustrated it in" thefigures, where the upper terminal is bored at 33, (Figure lcou'nterbored and internally threaded at 3s to receive respec-' tivelythe guide pin 35'and' threaded head 36 on theup per end of the plugconnector 31.

The plug isscrewed up until it makes stop engagement with the lowermside terminal member 16, an upwardly directed face 37 ot the boltmember engaging a downwardly directed time 38 of the terminal member. 7When the bolt connector is unscrewed to open the switch, it is looselysupported upon the lowerinside terlnlnal 16,'a downwardly directedcollar (preferably of insulating material). engaging an upper face 40 ofthe In the structure shown, the plug comprises an upper portion withguide-pin 35 and threaded head 36 and body portion a1 which is'threadedarea into a flanged base 43, fitting the internal bore of the lowerterminal mem- 'ber.- An insulating Sleeve at, suitably of bakelite, andpresenting a downwardly di rected collar 39, surrounds the bodyot the ofthe'threaded head 36 bya guiding'andarcmg thimble between the body andbase.

When moved upwardly for swltch connection the plug is guided at the topby the pin 35 and at the bottom by the thimble l5 so that the matingthreads of the head and upper terminal come together in perfect reg,

vided with ridges for more easy gripping and extends downwardly from aninsulation flange 51 which normally loosely fills and closes theenlarged opening in the bottom of the insulator. -The flanged handle isfastened to the plug in suitable way, was by moldingit about a shank 52screwed into the bottom of the plug. I

The top of the insulator is given finish and the'switch interior isprotected from the weather by a rubber w-2'1sher53 cap 54; and

nut 55 upon a threaded portion: 56 of the terminal member 15;

The gist of the invention lies inenclosing the two spaced hollowterminal members 15'and 16 46 axially in line, surrounding them by'aprotectiveinsulator and connecti1 1g them by a plug which is soinsulatedas to prevent accidental'contact with any live plug part. 7 r

.The guide pin facilitates introduction of the plug. The thread upontheplug cooperatingwith terminal member l5inakes it possible totighten theplug into position and the removable threaded bushing 46 supports toradjustmentot' the position at whichcontact engagement between it and theface 37 upon the plug shall take'place and'by its removal provides forcomplete withdrawal of the plug. The arcing guide 45 also hasconsiderable value. Though these are highly the'plug against accidentalremovalyprovides beneficial they are ancilliary to the main inventionabove.

in assemblage :The members 15' and 16 are inserted within the insulator10' and are readily fastened by the insulation 17,j 13

which molded to place. The collar 39 is mounted upon the sleevea4,'wh1ch is slipped over the rear of the front endot the plug,

aft-er which the guiding and sparking thimble e5 isputinto positionwhere. it is held by screwing the contact 43 upon the rear end of theplug.

The handle 32 carrying the shank 52 is then screwed to position,completing the assemblage'or the plug member. I

The'busliing ll} is adjusted to any proper position and is held there bythe set screw shown. Nolclose adjustment is required be- 7 c I use thescrew 36 need not come home within the threads 34, a great deal ofdifierence in final position being permissible at this end.

' n1 operationafter connection of the cir-' cuit has been made to theterminals In disconnected positionydotted in Figure 4, the collar 39will rest upon the surface 40 of the bushing 46 with the, result thatthe upper end of the plug will be'wholly disconnectedt'rcm the uppercontact and will be spaced at the sides, even trom'the insulator. by theinsulating collar 39.

The interior of the plug will meantime be insulated from the bushing 46by the sleeve at with the result that the plug will be wholly Iinsulated fromboth of the disconnected contacts, preventing thepossibility of shock or leakagev by engagement with the lower plugcontact 43 or the guiding and arching member 45, the only metallic partsof-the plug which are exposed beneath the insulator.

As the plug is passed up into the insulator to make contact between thecircuit terminals the metallic parts of the plug continue to beprotected from engagement. with the lower contact member until the upperend of the guiding and arcing member 45 first Comes in contact with thebushing a6, at which time the lower plug contact 43 is too muchprotected by insulation 51 for reasonable chance of accidental contactwith it.

As the plug is advanced further into the .nsulator the cooperating guidemembers upon the plug and upon the upper contact of the circuit engageand guide the plug thread 36 into engagement with the thread 3a whilethe guiding member 15 is maintaining the lower end of the plug in lineso that the contact portion 43 is passed up into the opening in thebushing 46.

lVhen the plug is screwed home within the thread 34: the upper surface37 of lower con tact part 43 is brought firmly into contact with thelower surface 38 of the bushing, completing an effective and reliableconnec tion between the circuit contacts.

When the parts aredisconnected by withdrawal of the plug any are thatis'formed is intended to be taken up by the member 45, after which theparts move up or down to the dotted position of the plug at which thisdescription started.

The switch is weather proof and fool proof. hen the switch is opened anyarcing can take place inside the insulator only, where it can do noharm, and at a thimble member 45 readily and inexpensively replaced.Bare conductors are at all times everywhere out of sight and out ofreach of the operator, whether .the switch be open or closed and duringopening and closing, making the switch extremely safe.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, and I therefore claim all such in so far asthey fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim'as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A tubular insulator, a pair of hollowcircuit terminals whose hollow portions are located axially in line infront and rear of the insulator and are protected by it, in combinationwith a plug having a guide and thread in its forward end in thedirection of the movement cooperating with one of the terminals and aninwardly facing contact surface spaced therefrom, located near its rearend and adapted to engage the second of the terminals.

2. A tubular insulator, a pair of hollow circuit terminals whose hollowportions are located axially in line in opposite ends of the insulator,in combination with a plug having contacts near opposite ends both inone position out of contact with the terminals, con nected by anintervening conductor and one threaded for engagement with one of thecircuit terminals, an insulating sleeve surrounding the conductorbetween the two contacts and a collar of the sleeve adapted to engagewith one of the circuit terminals to prevent normal withdrawal of theplug.

3. A tubular insulator, a pair of hollow circuit terminals whose hollowportions are located axially in line in opposite ends of the insulator,in combination with a plug having contacts near opposite ends connectedby an intervening conductor and one threaded for engagement with one ofthe circuit contacts, an insulating sleeve surrounding the conductor, aguiding and arcing metallic fitting surrounding the conductor betweenthe sleeve and second plug contact and a handle for applying the plug toclose the circuit contacts 4. A tubular insulator, a pair of hollowcircuit terminals whose hollow portions are lo cated axially in line inopposite ends of the insula or, one havinga removable annular innerportion, in combination with a plug having. contacts near opposite endsboth in one positionoutofcontact withtheterminals,connected by anintervening conductor and one threaded for engagement with one of thecircuit terminals, an insulating sleeve about the conductor between theplug contacts and a collar upon the insulating sleeve adapted to engagethe removable portion of the second circuit terminal to preventwithdrawal of the plug without the removal of this portion.

5. A tubular insulator, a conducting terminal fastened in the upper endthereof and presenting a downwardly threaded portion, a conductingterminal fastened in the lower end of the insulator, bored co-axiallytherewith and presenting a downwardly directed face, a plug connectorhaving an upper por tion threading into the upper terminal and a lowerportion presenting an upwardly directed face in disconnected positiondisengaged from the lower terminal but in engaged position engaging theface of the lower terminal, and an insulation handle fastened to thebottom of the plug for screwing and unscrewing the plug.

6. A tubular insulator, a conducting terminal fastened into the upperend thereof and within the insulator presenting a downwardly directedportion having a bore and internal threaded counterbore, a conductingterminal fastened to extend laterally into the lower end of theinsulator, bored coaxial therewith and presenting a downwardly di rectedface, a plug connector having a dowel and threaded upper'portionfittingthebore an'd'threaded counterbore respectively and a lower portionwithinthebore of the lower terminal and presenting an upwardly directed faceto engage the face of the lower terminal but free fromit indisengaged'position, and an insulation handle extending downwardly fromthe bottom of the plug for screwing and unscrewing the plu i.

7. A tubular insulator, a conducting terminal fastened to extend intothe upper end thereter having a circular recessed seat, a strap adaptedto partly surround the insuthereof and downwardly threaded inside theinsulator, a lower terminal fastened laterally into the lower end of theinsulator and having a bore coaxial w th the insulator, a con ductorplug having an upper end threaded into the upper terminal, a shoulder onthe 'plugupwardly enga the bottom of the I UAU 1 lower terminal, asleeve on the plug intermediate the terminals, a downwardly directedshoulder uponthe sleeve adapted to engage the lower terminal when theplug member is removed from engagement with the thereof and downwardlythreaded inside the insulator, a lower terminal fastened laterally intothe lower end of the insulator and having a bore coaxial with theinsulator, a conductor plug having an upper end threaded into the me er?upper terminal, a shoulder on the plugiupwardly engaging the bottomofthe lower terminal, a sleeve on the plug intermediate the terminals,an arcing thiinble carried by the engagement with the upper terminal,and an insulation handle downwardly extending from the plug.

' 9. A disconnecting switch having a cylindrical body, in combinationwith avbracket lator and having screw holes throughpthe strap, strapends reversely bent into axial with the screw holes and screws passingthrough the screw holes in the straps, engaged by the reverselybentstrap ends and holding the stra 'is to the bracket.

10. A disconnecting switchcomprising a tubular insulator having circuitterminals withinit and connecting approximately semis cylindricalmembers projecting laterally and vertically therefrom, in combinationwith circuit connecting emembers also approxi mately semi-cylindrical,adapted to engage alternatively with the members projecting from thedisconnecting switch, fastening devices for holding the members togetheand insulating sleeves fitting over the connections thus formed.

' lVlLLlf-tl FOSTER.

